Easy Crock Pot Turkey for Thanksgiving

Turkey is the main centerpiece of any Thanksgiving dinner. But sometimes you don't need a whole turkey for your group. And sometimes it's nice to have some extra oven space for the rolls and yams you are also trying to cook at the same time. This is an easy way to fix turkey, and it makes it nice and tender. We love it! I have made it this way several times with different variations. You can be creative and use your favorite variety of spices if you'd like.


Ingredients

Turkey breast (5-7 lbs depending on your crock pot size)
1 1/4 C water
2 T honey
1 T orange zest
juice from 1 orange (I have used orange juice from a can too)
1 T salt
1 T poultry seasoning
1 T thyme
1 T basil


Directions

1. Thaw out the turkey breast. (Mine was still frozen in the middle when I started the cooking process.)

2. Pour the water in a large crock pot and set it on high.

3. You could mix the spices and do a rub, but I ended up just pouring the spices, juice, and honey on top.

4. Cover the turkey with a piece of foil to insulate it--just over the top. Make sure the lid is on tight. Do not open the lid once you shut it. Each time you lift the lid, it lets a lot of heat out.

5. Cook the turkey on high for about 5 hours. (It was 7lbs,) It was perfect. I put a thermometer in it, and it was at 185 degrees. It should be at least 165. The meat usually just falls off the bone and is very tender. When we have leftovers, it makes great sandwiches too.

Note: I have also started this process at night and had it cook all night on low. Then just put it on warm once it is all cooked until ready to serve.
 

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3 Ideas for Thanksgiving Dinner

Happy November!

Table set getting ready for our meal.

Well November is here. It is a happy month at our house with fun things happening. We had an early Thanksgiving meal on Sunday with our family. Seven of our family members are going to be gone for Thanksgiving, so why not just have it early? As far as I am concerned we should be having Thanksgiving (as in, considering our blessings) every month. Everybody brought something to share. It just felt really nice to be with my family and to think about the many blessings I enjoy in my life. Here are some of the things we had.

 

Thankful Tree



Thankful Tree with added blessings

It was so cool! Britney and her little boys made me a Thankful tree. I had been wanting to make one and she read my mind. I was so excited when she brought it over. We have been adding our blessings to it each day. Britney said she had learned at church that day about a study that showed if you take time to record 5 things you are thankful for each day, it has lots of benefits that you wouldn't expect to be connected with being thankful. Just that simple act made the test group be happier (although their situation didn't change), have less health complaints, be more likely to help other people, and even exercise more. I need to have a tree like this all year.



Goodie bag

 I made goodie bags. I loved the idea I saw of putting bugles in them. They look like little cornucopias. I also added some candy corn and honey roasted peanuts. My family loved them.



Pumpkin Trifle

The dessert was this pumpkin trifle. It was yummy and pretty. It was made with pumpkin spice whole grain cake, vanilla pudding, pumpkin pudding, and whip cream. I will give you the recipe tomorrow.



Apple and Peanut Butter Turkey Salad

I loved this idea I saw of an apple peanut butter turkey salad. We have some picky grandsons, so it was a great way to interest them in eating with us.  I just rolled the peanut butter in a ball and used 2 chocolate chips and a candy corn (next time I will turn the candy corn the right way.)  I then sliced green and red apples. It was enjoyed by all.

 Our world would be a happier place if we all thought about our blessings each day. :) We can start one person at a time. We all have a lot to be thankful for. Happy November.